Bakuda in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Hindu Bakuda people are also known as the Bayala Bakuda.

Though the Bakuda speak their own language called Tulu, most also speak the main languages of the state they live in. The New Testament and JESUS Film are available in Tulu. Radio programs exist in Tamil. There are few if any believers among the Bakuda.

They live in India's southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Bakuda live in poverty. Their main occupation is working on farms on land owned by higher castes, construction and sanitation. A large portion of Bakuda adults are unable to read and write. The Indian government is making progress in educating Bakuda children. Their lack of literacy and job skills confines the Bakuda to a low position in Indian society.

Their main food is rice supplemented by vegetables, fruit and coconut oil. They eat meat only on holidays. As Hindus, the Bakuda do not eat beef.

The Bakuda marry among their group. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. They tend to have large families. Sons inherit their father's property and have the responsibility of taking care of elderly parents. Life expectancy is low and child mortality is high among the Bakuda. Many Bakuda children quit school only after a few years in order to help their family earn a living. Some Bakuda young people are moving to Indian cities searching for a better life. Unfortunately, they are able to find only the lowest paying jobs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bakuda people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bakuda have huge physical and spiritual needs. They need good schools for their children. They need new job skills. Rural Bakuda often lack access to modern medicine and clean water. Most of all, the Bakuda people need to realize that they cannot please God without being empowered by the Holy Spirit. They cannot have the Holy Spirit without Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Bakuda people will see their spiritual poverty and come to the Christ who can make them spiritually rich.

Pray for the Lord to send loving workers to the Bakuda people.

Pray for dreams and visions to lead many Bakuda to the foot of the cross.

Pray that the believers of South India would be moved to help the Bakuda with their many needs.

Pray the Lord raises up a disciple making movement among the Bakuda this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Bakuda in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bakuda
People Name in Country Bakuda
Alternate Names Aivattukuladavaru; Bakadra; Bayalu; Bayalu Bakuda; Kusala; बाकूड़ा
Population this Country 15,000
Population all Countries 15,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16306
ROP3 Code 111434
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 7
Largest States
Kerala
7,200
Tamil Nadu
5,500
Karnataka
1,800
Puducherry
100
Odisha
90
Telangana
70
Goa
20
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 7
  Kerala 7,200
  Tamil Nadu 5,500
  Karnataka 1,800
  Puducherry 100
  Odisha 90
  Telangana 70
  Goa 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.31 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.69 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (4,800 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Tulu
3,900
Malayalam
2,900
Kannada
1,200
Konkani, Goan
200
Telugu
80
Primary Language Tamil (4,800 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Tulu 3,900
  Malayalam 2,900
  Kannada 1,200
  Konkani, Goan 200
  Telugu 80
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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